Improvement in car-couplings



H. a. RUSSELL.

Car-'uuplings. N No. 144,479, Pa'tented Nox/.ng 187;

Witness In enter:

Attorneys..

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

HAMLIN G. RUSSELL, OF LINCOLN, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN CAR-COUPLINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 144,479, dated November 11, 1873; applic :tion led June 14, 1873. d

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HAMLIN G. RUssELL, of Lincoln, in the county of Logan and State of Illinois, have invented a new and Improved Oar-Coupling, of which the following is a speciication:

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 represents a sectional side view of my improved car-coupling on the line o c, Fig. 2 5 Fig. 2, a top view of the same, partly 'm section; and Fig. 3, an end view of the same, partly in section.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved automatical car-coupling, which couples easily and quickly, a-nd is applicable to cars of dierent heights. It is also arranged so that trains may be made up and the cars be brought together without coupling. My invention consists of draw-bars with pivoted spring-hooks, which engage with recessed parts and connect with a disengaging mechanism for uncouph'ng, which also prevents the hooks from coupling on making up the train.

In the drawing, A A represent the drawbars, of oblong shape, attached to the lower sides of the car-platforms. Each bar is provided with a coupling-hook, C, which is pivoted, at the rear end of the same, to a strong vertical rod, a. Projecting parts b of draw; barA secure the even lateral workin g of hook C. Astrong band-spring, d, is connected to hook O and placed in such a manner between it and the side of draw-bar A that the force of the same presses hook C toward that side of the draw-bar. The opposite side of drawbar A is made with a solid inclined part, c, at the mouth, for the easy entering of the coupling-hook of the adjoining-car. Part e is supplied with a vertical groove e', along its rear edge, into which the hook O locks. A catchplate, j', is secured to the side of draw-bar A in the rear of part e, by bolts, screws, or rivets g, so that its ont part has an elastic springlike action. A bolt or pin, h, which passes through a hole7 h', of drawbar A, is rigidly applied to bar which slides, by its rectan gular leg if, on the top of draw-bar A, by means of slot l and lug l'. Leg z" carries the fulcrum m of lever B, which engages hooks n of platform at both sides of fulcrum m. ends of lever B are bent forward to be arrested by hooks n in the sliding sideward motion of bars 'i i. A hook-shaped projection, o, of the longer end of lever B may be locked on hook u, and thereby the catch-plate j' retained by bolt h in its forward-extending position, preventing thereby the engaging of hook O. A suitable treadle or other mechanism is applied to the shorter end of lever B for adjusting the catch-plate for coupling or uncoupling.

On the approaching of the cars, the hooks C lock into the grooves e of parts c. For uncoupling, lever B is carried sidewise, so that the catch-plates f act on the ends of hooks O and disengage them from grooves 6. The play in vertical direction which is given to hooks C along parts e allows the coupling of cars of diii'erent heights, while the side play of the hooks disconnects instantly the cars when any one should get oif the track.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patn, as shown and described, for the purpose specified.

HAMLIN G. RUSSELL.

Witnesses JAMES T. HoBLIT, WILLIAM TooMEY.

Both y 

